The highest point of the Manaslu Circuit Trek is the Larkya La pass (5,106m / 16,814 ft). It is one of the most dramatic pass crossings in the Himalayas. Tsum Valley lies to the east of Manaslu, on the border with Tibet. The highest point of Tsum Valley is at 4,000m above the largest monastery in the valley, Mu Gompa.

The trail to the Tsum Valley allows you to explore the unexplored village inhabited by the Tibetan descendants. The Manaslu Circuit via Tsum Valley is a trekking route in the restricted region. The beauty and culture of these regions are still very raw and untouched.

The Manaslu Circuit via Tsum Valley Trek cost is on the pricer side in comparison to the individual Manaslu Circuit trek or the Tsum Valley Trek.

Manaslu Circuit trek is a 17-day trek and Tsum Valley Trek is a 15-day trek. The Manaslu Circuit via Tsum Valley Trek is a 22-day trek. The increase in the number of days and the distance of the Manaslu Circuit trek definitely adds to the total cost increasing the per day cost.

Let us make it easier for you and break down the cost of Manaslu Circuit via Tsum Valley Trek below :

Transportation Cost

Due to its isolation and off-road trails, Manaslu region is not yet connected to the city via proper roads.

So, you will have to take the local bus or hire a jeep to reach Arughat. It is the starting point of the Manaslu Circuit trek via Tsum Valley.

Kathmandu to Soti Khola via Arughat

Distance: 141 kmDuration: 7-9 hours by bus or jeep

Local bus

There is no direct public transport from Kathmandu to Soti Khola. You have to transit in Arughat if traveling by a local bus.

It will cost you around USD 10- USD 15 per head in a local bus.

Private Jeeps

If you are traveling by a private jeep, you can take the jeep straight to Soti Khola without transiting in Arughat.

Private jeeps are costlier charging you USD 200 – USD 250. But, it can fit into 7 people where you can divide the cost.

It is also a lot comfortable compared to the local buses. And it saves you from the hassle of the transits.

Dharapani to Kathmandu via Beshi Sahar

Distance: 190 kmDuration: 7-8 hours

Some people do walk down to Beshi Sahar from Dharapani. We definitely do not recommend it, as the road is very dusty.

There are also no local buses available between Dharapani to Beshi Sahar, so you will have to travel by the local jeeps. It takes approximately 5 hours to get to Beshi Sahar. The vehicles leave every hour.

The local jeeps charge you around USD 20 -USD 25 per person.

You can also travel to Beshi Sahar by a private jeep for a faster and a lot comfortable ride.

The private jeep will cost you anything between USD 200 -USD 250.

From Beshi Sahar, you can also take a local jeep to Kathmandu for USD 10 – USD 15 per person. And the local buses will cost you around USD 7.

Cost of Hiring a Guide

According to the government’s rule, you cannot trek in Manaslu region unless you hire a licensed guide. So, before you plan to trek in the region do allocate the budget to hire the guide for the trek.

On average the cost for a guide is USD 35 per day which includes the food, accommodation, and insurance of the guide.

But an experienced guide who can speak your language (other than English) might charge up to USD 40 per day.

Cost of Hiring a Porter

Manaslu Circuit Trek is a moderate trek, hiring a porter is entirely your decision. If you are well-trained to carry your load, you can just trek with a guide or a porter-guide.

But hiring a porter has no cons at all. Instead, you will be able to trek without any burden which will allow you to enjoy the trek a lot. By the end of the day, you won’t feel tired and exhausted because of the load.

The cost of the porter for a day is around USD $20 -USD 25. It includes the cost of the porter’s food, accommodation, and insurance.

Cost of Food and Drinks

As for the cost of food here, it is expensive than in Kathmandu because of the elevation and the remoteness of the region.

You will be paying roughly USD 5 per meal which means USD 15-20 a day.

You can enjoy the local cuisine Dal Bhat and Tarkai i.e. Rice, lentil soup and fresh vegetables. If you like, you can also choose from a wide range of menu available. However, this can be quite pricier.

A bottle of water may cost around USD 1, so it is best to carry a refillable bottle. If you choose to refill from the local taps or springs, be sure to use a purifying tab.

In Kathmandu, a good meal will cost you around USD 8-10.

Accommodation Cost

Accommodation will not be a problem at all in Manaslu or Tsum valley as tea houses have increased in recent years. So, there should not be any issue accommodating any trekker.

The average cost for one twin bedroom is USD 6 -USD 9 per night. This twin bedroom is for two people. But even if you are sleeping alone in the room please take note that you will still have to pay the total cost of the room.

They provide a decent room with the basic facilities. There are no room heaters or attached bathrooms. You will be using a common lavatory. You are also welcome to use the kitchen stove during winters.

Other Miscellaneous Costs

It is a known fact that everything in the mountains is expensive, Manaslu Circuit is quite the same.

Other than food and accommodation the following are the extra costs you might have to pay. These costs are the addition to your Manaslu Circuit via Tsum Valley Trek Cost.

1. Charging your electronic gadgets

Charging your electronic gadgets such as a camera, mobile phone etc may cost you a few dollars.

To avoid such costs you can bring along a solar battery charger or a portable power bank and extra batteries for your camera!

2. Hot water bath

Taking a bath every day in the mountains is not practical or logical. But if you do want to take a bath they will provide you with hot water in buckets.

The tea houses may charge you around 0.5 – 1 US dollar for a bucket of hot water.

Hot water here is usually heated either by gas or firewood that is why they will charge you a few dollars for this. You can also opt to bring along some wet wipes to wipe your body instead of taking a bath every day.

3. Tips for the staff

Like in the west, you can give your porter and guide some tips after completing your trek. This is to show your gratitude and appreciation for their help.

Normally the tips are USD 100 for a two weeks trek, which is USD 7 per day.

Manaslu Circuit via Tsum Valley Trek Cost

To sum up, Manaslu Circuit via Tsum Valley is a 22-day trek and will cost you around USD 1300-1400.

But if you take the Manaslu Circuit trek, it costs around USD 1044 and the Tsum Valley trek costs around USD 1000.

Trek Cost for Nepalese Citizens

Manaslu circuit via Tsum Valley is also a popular trekking route among the local Nepalese. And, being Nepali you do not need to get a trekking permit to visit these regions. Also, it is not a compulsion for you to hire a guide or a porter for this trek.

So, in comparison to the cost of Manaslu Circuit trek with Tsum Valley trek for foreigner trekkers, Nepalese can do at low cost. For Nepalese the local transport costs

KTM – Arughat – Soti Khola NPR – 600-700

Dharapani – Beshisahar -NPR 1500

Beshisahar – Kathmandu – NPR 500 – 700

While the average cost of food is NPR 500 – 700 per meal, which is the same as the foreigners. While for the room, Nepalese can get the room in NPR300 – 700 for a night.

Conclusion

Manaslu Circuit Trek is for someone who is looking for a more rustic, less commercialized trek to the wilderness. It is relatively more remote as compared to the other trekking regions but quite affordable.

Manaslu Circuit via Tsum Valley Trek cost increases because of the charges of the restricted permits. In addition, it also increases with the addition of the days when you add a side trip to Tsum Valley in the Manaslu Circuit trek. This automatically adds-in to total trek cost.